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Hello I am new here. I had 3 hives of my own when I grew up and was being taught how to handle bees. I am comfortable enough that I do not wear a suit or mesh hat. The problem arises well I do not really remember much from the days gone by. I am looking to get started I have purchased a used hive and it has 5 supers for it, 2 smokers, 1 feeder, the queen screen, well lets just say it is 100% complete minus the hive tool which I still have mine. What can I use to clean up the inside of the hive with? What Kind of paint can I use on the outside as not to deter my bees. And where can I get some bees? I am really looking forward to getting this started again. I am going to the library next week to get some books but want to get started. I live in St. Louis If anyone is close and wants to help a guy out.

A persons advice is usually tailored to where the information is to be used. Also info like where to get bees would be easier if we all knew where you were from. Please consider filling in your "from" info so we may all help you to the fullest.

It's not been that long ago that I got my bee furniture and ordered my bees. I built the furniture and painted everything and set it outside on the stands and waited in anticipation for my bees. It began to feel like we were expected a baby or something. LOL

Well, then the bees arrived, three packages, two packages and the first package I put in was great. I just put them in and then added the queen cage, stuck between two frames and closed it up.

Then for the second one, I sprayed the bees with a little sugar water, like I was instructed to do, and by the time I got to this second group to add them, most has sufficated. I don't remember just how it happened but I started crying and couldn't stop crying. I had killed all those bees............

Anyway, I see you're from St Louis. You might want to call the library and ask the libraian for the name of the local beekeepers club, or just look them up on your internet there. Get a contact number and give em a buzz. It's easier then ever to find groups etc.

I just used any ole exterior paint I have. I used white and other light colors. well i have two colors right now.

I paint the bottom boards both sides, and just the outsides of the boxes. I painted the outside of some the other days and the bees are living in them. They didn't mind.

i've got to agree with bjornbee,i really wish everyone would list where they are from in their profile.it's really to your benefit,someone from your town could have just what you need,either equipment wise or regarding information.

I don't know how long it has been since you kept bees in the past. The first thing I would recomend is read up on varroa mites, small hive beatles, and trachea mites. If you don't know about thease new pest it would be to your best intrest to learn as much as you can before you get started.

I would also like for you to read everthing you can about small cell foundation before you start buying the larger cell foundation.

If you realy KNOW where the hive came from and you realy TRUST the person who sold it to you you could just scrape the inside and be done with that. That part is up to you if were me I'd scrape it out and then scorch it with a torch...now don't burn the wood away just let the wax and all melt and turn the wood a brownish/black that's all. After that the inside is good to go.

The out side is also up to you. This is what I do. I'd scrape all the old paint off that I could. make sure the nails, screws, and joints are tight. Fill in all cracks in the joints or nots or whatever with exterior paintable calking. sealing up the cracks on the outside will keep water from getting into them. If you get water into even the smallest crack in the winter when it freezes it will make the crack bigger, and so on and so on. Then paint with 2 good coats or exterior latex paint. You can buy it for $2 to $4 a gallon, that has been mixed wrong. Might not have the best choice in colors, but hey you can't beat the price. I would say a lighter color is generaly what people want, or just go buy white exterior laytex paint for about $20. and be done with it.